Women’s Volleyball Team To Play Vigorous Schedule
The UW-Oshkosh women's volleyball team faces a dynamic schedule in 2015, as 11 of its 33 opponents were NCAA Division III postseason qualifiers a year ago.
UW-Oshkosh's list of notable challengers includes UW-Stevens Point, which won its fourth straight WIAC title before advancing to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Championship in 2014. The Titans, who finished third in last year's WIAC race with a 5-3 record, visits UW-Stevens Point (33-5, 7-1 WIAC) on Oct. 21.
UW-Oshkosh also battles a pair of teams that advanced to the third round of last year's national tournament in Cornell College (Iowa) and Washington University (Mo.). The Titans play Cornell College (26-7) on Oct. 3 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Washington University (35-6) on Sept. 5 in St. Louis, Mo.
Other teams on UW-Oshkosh's schedule from last year's NCAA Division III Championship are Colorado College; Illinois institutions Dominican University, Elmhurst College, Millikin University and the University of Chicago; University of St. Thomas (Minn.); Webster University (Mo.); and UW-Whitewater.
UW-Oshkosh opens the 2015 season with matches on Sept. 1 in Madison against Edgewood College and the University of Dubuque (Iowa). The Titans then travel to St. Louis for matches on Sept. 4-5 against Webster University, Hanover College (Ind.), University of Dallas (Texas) and host Washington University.
The Titans will host two tournaments this season in Kolf Sports Center, the 11-team Pizza Hut Classic on Sept. 11-12 and the seven-team UW-Oshkosh Invitational on Oct. 16-17.
UW-Oshkosh's opponents in the Pizza Hut Classic are Wisconsin Lutheran College and Concordia University Wisconsin on Sept. 11 and St. Catherine University (Minn.) and Dominican University on Sept. 12. The UW-Oshkosh Invitational features the Titans playing Illinois Wesleyan University on Oct. 16 and the University of St. Thomas and Martin Luther College (Minn.) on Oct. 17.
UW-Oshkosh opens its conference slate with a home match against UW-Whitewater (26-9, 7-1 WIAC) on Sept. 23 and a road contest at UW-Platteville (17-17, 4-4 WIAC) on Sept. 30. UW-Whitewater shared last year's WIAC title with UW-Stevens Point.
The Titans follow their matches against UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville with a three-game trip to Colorado Springs on Oct. 2-3. UW-Oshkosh faces Elmhurst College and host Colorado College on Oct. 2 before battling Cornell College on Oct. 3.
UW-Oshkosh's remaining tournament is in Decatur, Ill., on Oct. 23-24. The Titans are scheduled to play host Millikin University and Central College (Iowa) on Oct. 23 and the University of Chicago and Monmouth College (Ill.) on Oct. 24.
Following a non-conference match at Marian University on Oct. 28, UW-Oshkosh closes its season by hosting WIAC rivals UW-River Falls on Oct. 30 and UW-Stout on Oct. 31.
The Titans will play Ripon College on Sept. 15 and UW-La Crosse on Oct. 7 in their remaining home contests.
UW-Oshkosh's schedule also includes matches against Lakeland College and Carroll University on Sept. 8 in Sheboygan; Lawrence University and St. Norbert College on Sept. 16 in Stevens Point; and UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 10 in Eau Claire.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association had seven of UW-Oshkosh's 2015 opponents ranked in its preseason poll of NCAA Division III teams. The organization had UW-Stevens Point ranked seventh, Washington University ninth, Colorado College 15th, University of St. Thomas 17th, Elmhurst College 19th, Cornell College 22nd and UW-Whitewater 24th.
UW-Oshkosh welcomes back nine letter winners from last year's team that compiled a 31-8 record and participated in the NCAA Division III Championship for the seventh time in 10 seasons and 16th overall. The Titans' NCAA postseason appearance ended in the first round as they dropped a three-set decision to eventual national semifinalist Calvin College (Mich.).
Senior outside hitter Katelyn Malcheski, a two-time All-WIAC First Team performer, returns after leading the league with 476 kills a year ago. She also ranked third in the WIAC with an average of 3.74 points per set.
Senior libero Mandy Trautmann is back after leading the NCAA Division III with 833 digs in 2014. She collected All-WIAC First Team honors last season after pacing the league with an average of 5.78 digs per set. Trautmann has been named to the WIAC's All-Defensive Team the past two seasons.
Brian Schaefer has tallied a 304-99 record during his 11 seasons as UW-Oshkosh's head coach. His .754 winning percentage ranks third in WIAC history among coaches with at least 150 victories.
The Titans began practice for the 2015 season on Aug. 19.